Many Muslims in the United States mark September 11, 2001 as their day. change relations with the country.
Islamophobia was always present, but terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia made it worse – even worse.
Muslims of all stripes – citizens, immigrants and refugees – faced backlash. Many were ostracized and harassed, some were physically tortured and even killed. Accused rhetoric, repeated wars and attacks further aggravated the situation.
Feeling condemned for the crimes they had committed, some Muslims changed their names and clothes to hide their identities, while others became even stricter in their faith. Some became vocal supporters of the community.
Every Muslim in America has a story to tell. Here is one of them.
Ruwa Roman, 28, is a Palestinian American community organizer and policy analyst Lives in Duluth, Georgia.
She was 8 years old when terrorists attacked and had recently come to America with her parents. But his dream of building a new life in America soon turned into a nightmare.
“I remember the hallways and the day seemed darker, although I remember it was sunny outside,” Roman told CNN about his experience at school that day. “I don’t think I fully understood what was going on because I barely spoke English.”
Still, she remembers a long list of insults as a child: “terrorist” and “sand n****r.” Some also asked whether she was related to Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda mastermind behind the attacks.
Roman says he doesn’t remember a single day in elementary school when the bullying stopped. High school wasn’t much better – a teacher pulled her out of class to ask if her family was from a terrorist group.
Outside of school, a close friend’s family banned her from their home because she was Muslim and “dangerous”. airport travel Multiple bag checks are required – sometimes three times during a single trip.
Bullying and harassment set Roman on his way to educate and advocate for his community, even at a young age.
“I felt a sense of duty to never respond to every horrible comment I made and to try to educate people,” Roman said. “Looking at my younger self, I am very angry and sad for him. There was nothing I had to do. I was a kid trying to grow up and make sense of my life. Suddenly I was all over the world. Be an ambassador for a billion people.”
In 2016, Roman joined the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, as his director of communications. She has since become a community organizer, policy analyst and consultant working on related issues.
Roman says it is difficult to advocate for American Muslims and the issues they face, but he sees hope in every small victory.
“We will remain politically connected and will continue to do so unexpectedly.” Roman said. “Muslims are no longer ready to bear that burden. None of us did 9/11. Why should we carry that burden?”
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